Spring retainer and safety cover for sectional tube expanders



E- SWEENEY.

SPRING RETAINER AND SAFETY COVER FOR SECTIONM. TUBE EXPANDERS.

APPLICATWN FILED NOV-23' IBZO- 1,408,546. Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

Mmup.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J. SWEENEY, OF HAMMOND, INDIANA.

SPRING RETAINER AND SAFETY COVER FOR SECTIONAL TUBE EXPANDERS.

Application filed November To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, Enwann J. SWEENEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hammond, in the county of Lake and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful Spring Retainer and Safety Cover for Seetional Tube Expanders, of which the following is a specification.

T his invention has reference to tube expanders oi? the sectional type, the object of the invention being to provide a safety cover for the expander, eliminating the usual coiled spring employed as a part of this construction, the cover acting as a retainer for the sections of the expander.

\Vith the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the'description proceeds, the invention resides in the com bination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, may be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Referring to the drawing Figure '1 illustrates a side elevational view of a sectional tube expander, showing a cover as constructed in accordance with the present invention as applied thereto,

Figure 2 illustrates an end elevational view of the same; and

Figure 3- illustrates a sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawing in detail, the ex pander to which the cover is applied, is formed in the usual manner and includes a plurality of sections 5, which sections have inclined inner surfaces to insure a close (it between the sections, and as shown, the lower outer surface of each section t: )ers as at 6 to permit the expander to be positioned within a tube or pipe.

Each section is provided with a relatively straight upper portion '7, the respective sec tions being also provided with a groove in the outer surface thereof, so that when a number of sections are brought into engagement with each other, the grooves of the sections will form a circumferential groove around the expander,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

23, 1920. Serial No. 426,071.

The cover forming an important feature of this invention is formed preferably of sheet metal, and includes a body portion 8, and an upper flange portion 9, the cover being circular in formation and having overlapping ends, whereby the cover may expand and contract when the same is in operation.

Formed in the body portion 8, at a point substantiallyintermediate the width thereof, is a depressed portion 11 designed to be fitted within the circumferential groove of the expander, to eliminate movement of the cover with respect to the expander.

In the operation of the device it is obvious that as the sections are moved laterally, the cover moves or expands with the sections and insures against displacement thereof.

While I have shown and described the cover as employed in place of the usual spring construction, it is to be understood that this cover may be employed in connection with expanders while the spring is positioned on the sections thereof.

Having thus described invention, what is claimed as new is 1. In combination with a sectional expander, a circular cover adapted to be positioned over one end of the expander, and having a flange portion contacting with one end of the expander, said circular cover having overlapping ends to permit the cover to expand and contract, and said cover adapted to hold the sections of the expander in an assembled position.

2. In combination with a sectional expander having a circumferential groove, 21. cover formed of sheet metal and having a depressed portionforming an enlargement on the inner surface of the cover, said enlargement adapted to be fitted within the circumferential groove for securing the cover to the expander, and said cover adapted to move with the expansion and contraction of the sections.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aiiixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD J. SWVEENEY.

Witnesses M. THERESA BUCK, JOHN D, SMAL EY 

